as in preparatory
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
we need to do some preliminary research in order to properly focus the experiment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prelude
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
a meeting to discuss seating arrangements that was merely a preliminary to the formal negotiating sessions
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Recent Examples of preliminary
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 25 Mar. 2026
Council members went on to vote 8-1 in favor of the dome Tuesday night and advanced a preliminary development plan and a special use permit for the roughly 75,000-square-foot dome.
—Nathan Pilling
march 25, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The contestant from Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, took a scary tumble during the evening gown round at Wednesday’s preliminaries and was carried away in a stretcher, according to social media videos which circulated of her fall.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preliminary
Adjective
Three senior Iranian sources told Reuters on Tuesday that Qalibaf could be the nation’s representative in hypothetical negotiations, but that only preliminary communications have occurred via intermediaries in Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 25 Mar. 2026
Council members went on to vote 8-1 in favor of the dome Tuesday night and advanced a preliminary development plan and a special use permit for the roughly 75,000-square-foot dome.
—Nathan Pilling
march 25, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
Is it reduced to yet another fill-in-the-blank preliminary to a national title game in some super-duper-they-look-alike stadium?
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The contestant from Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, took a scary tumble during the evening gown round at Wednesday’s preliminaries and was carried away in a stretcher, according to social media videos which circulated of her fall.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preliminary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preliminary
Adjective
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But diplomatic protocol ahead of a presidential visit to China usually sees either the US secretary of state or the national security advisor make a preparatory trip too, and that did not happen.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
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Before the performance, students participate in several preparatory rehearsals.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As a prelude to a lunar landing, the flight was an important step in testing the flight trajectory and operations before astronauts stepped foot on the moon's surface.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
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Like the last time the Pioneers won the Frozen Faceoff in 2024, when DU went on to capture its record 10th national title, the victory could be a prelude to something much greater.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Those moves were widely expected, as Geren was already referred to as the board’s president at an introductory news conference for new Superintendent Peter Licata on March 24.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
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This introductory offer allows new players to simply sign up and play a $5 lineup to get the reward, providing an immediate boost to your starting bankroll.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preliminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preliminary. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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